Elbow head flashlight



Jan. 2, 1945. J. G. LIPPiNCOTT ELBOW HEAD FLASHLIGHT 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 29, 1945 INVENTQR JOSHUA GORDON [.(PP/NCOTT ATTORNEY 1945. J. G. LIPPINCOTT 2,366,202

ELBOW HEAD FLASHLIGHT Filed Nov. 29, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 15 1 b v 13 1 R 15 I EIVENTOR 11a. 23b QJQJHUA Gamay/ mm A TORNEY I lar to Fig. 3

all as shown in Figs. 3 and 6.

Th'e elbow head I3 is also seen to include an Patented Jan. 2,1945

.llos hua Gordon Il ippincott, Scarsdale, N Y as sign'or to Guth, Stern & "06., Inc a corporation 6f New York "Application November 29, 1 943, Serial No. 512,167 elo'laims g (Cl. 24'0-'10.67)

This invention relates to flashlight devices and more particularly is d""ected to por table flashlights formed with e'l-b" orzangular sh'apedhead structure "of im roved construction.

mong the Objects-bf the ih v entidh is to 2611- "e'rally improve flashlights 0f the character de- Scrib'ed which shau ompriseiew and "simple pdits that *a'rere'adily assembled to form a rugged yet neat appearing structure, which assembly 'sh'a-ll have the parts "conveniently proportioned for "both -signal "lighting and general illumination purposes, which shall be inexpensive to manuiac'ture, and which shall b'e' p'ractical and efficient to a high degree in use. i

Other objects or the inve iir i wil in pait'be obvious and in part 'hereina'fterpbintefc'l out. The

invention accordingly consists of features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements 'of .parts which will be exemplified "in the construction hereinafter described and or which the scope of the application will be indicated inthefollowing claims. e

In the accompanying. drawings "in which is shown an illustrativeembodiment Of this invention. a

Figs. 1 and 2 are front and rear'views, respec tively, of an improved elbow hea'dportable flashlight constructed to embody the invention.

Fig. 3 is a 'side elevational View of the flashlight shown in Figs. '1 ano z, a greater .portion or the housing being broken away to expose the interior construction.

Figs. '4 and 5 are cross sectional views taken on lines 4,-4 and 5-5 in Fig; 3.

Fig). 6. is-anenlarged cross s ection view simi construction, and

Figs. :7 and flare detail cross sectional views taken on lines 7- 1 and 8&8111 Fig. 6.

Referring in detail to the drawings ,IO denotes an improved elbow head portable flashlight constructed to embody the invention. Asseen from Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the flashlight II] has a tubular casing portion 1 I formed withwa closed bottom.

Ha and an open end Hb forwhousing -one or more electric battery dry cells [2 of conventional construction, and has an elbow head-l3 secured to the open end III) of battery housing portion i H by a suitable means such as screw .joint I 4. m

Said screw joint l 4 mayfhave interior threads I 10 form on the inner surface of the housing open end llb engaging with exterior threads I 3a extending beyond a closed endl3b of elbow head IS. The

other angularly disposed open end 13:; of elbow head l3 oppositeclosed end l3b may alsobe provided with. suitable exterior threads 1311 onto which is screwed the flange l5a of a lens cap" 15,

showing a detailof the assembly integrally formed gripper support "l3e whicli'exi tends down loeyOn'd theplane bf the closed end 1311 and has a hook end which may have a "serrated 01' a tooth surface I 37 faoing a mid' portio'n "of the 'exteriorside or the batteryhousing H and e a terminal outturned finger 13g.

The battery housing an'd lbowhead above described preferably is molded "of suitable plastic material of anywell known composition that can be colored as desired and finished without machining to exact size and shape as required; Said material is considered generally as forming rig-id structures yet has a ertain desiredfdegree or resiliency to counteract shocks du to blows and rough handling. Thusthe grip'per support 13c in the form shown in Figs. 3 and Grn'ay be con- "structed and arranged that it is capable .of being temporarily swung or flexed and held inthe position shown if). Hot and dash lines in Fig. while a belt or other support (not shown) can be in- 'serted to pass the hook endthereof and be'ret'ained "against removal from spaces after 'said g iipper support He is released and has returned to the full line position shown due "to the resiliencyfbf the-grip er. support ae construction. e a

The elbow head l3lhas in the rear curved side theieofa slotted opening (an in which there seated to ride a. finger operated slide switch l5 below which is mounted to extend through "the elbow head w ll a pushbutton n. j e e The elbow head l3 when mounted in place by screw joint I4 preferably forms, through the provision of closed e'nd 13b, a tightclos ure for 'said casing portion l I in which the battery cells 12 are housed thereby excluding any fumes orvapors frbm leaving the battery compartment and enteringinto the elbow head. M y

Carried [t the open e'r idbf the elbow head is and secured in place bythe flange lid'of the lens cap ii there eXtendsJthe utturned flange [8a of a metallic reflector l8. The latter carries a centralized screwshell portion 18b which removably mountedto extend therethrough an insulating thimble l9, which in turn has projecting therein a basepZlla for incandescent lamp 20. A

.metallic eyelet contact l9a may be provided to extend through the. closed end of the thimble H! and a suitable metallic resilient spring [91) interposed in circuit between the innerend of the eyelet l9a and a center terminal contact 2022 of lamp base 20a. The lamp base 20a has also an extending'terminal collar contact lflc which ispressed against screw shell l8b of the reflector by the mounting of the thimble' l9 therein, and

if desired awasher may be provided between the bulb of lamp 2|] and the reflector 18 as shown in Fig. 6 to retain the lamp 20 in a steadied position. i The lenscap l5 and its flange li'apreferably is i made of a single piece of transparent molded plastic with inner threads [b thereof formed to fit the exterior threads l3d on the open end of the elbow head l3. The front wall portion I50 of said cap l5 may be arched outwardly to provide a stiffened bracing structure.

Centrally through the closed end l3b of elbow head I3 there is mounted to extend a suitable electric contact, such as metallic rivet 2|, which has the under or exterior end 2| 4: located to press against a top center terminall2a of the dry cell battery 12. The other or interior end 2| 1) of said rivet provides an anchor for one end 22a of a metallic spring blade 22 which is bent upwardly to pass the outer end of eyelet lSa carried by the thimble l9 and in the path of movement of the push button I! and slide switch I6.

The slide switch 16 which is mounted for sliding movement in slot l3h along the curvedwall portion of the elbow head l3 has an integral interior projecting lug 16a which abuts the free end 22b of the spring 22, said switch-being located beyond, that is, above the thimble mounting of the lamp 20. Slide switch l6 may be formedwith an insulating finger piece portion [6b projecting through said elbow head wall to ride on the exterior side thereof, a suitable plate I60 being secure on the interior side of said finger piece lfib by suitable means, sucih as, screw id to retain the parts in cooperative assembly.

The interior side of the elbow head wall adjacent the slot I371. and said plate I621 may be .made with suitable spaced detent means, as

shown at 28 in Fig. 6 for retaining the slide switch I6 movement actuating the spring blade 22 in either oif, that is, open circuit position when pushed down as shown in full lines, or, in on, that is, closed circuit position when pushed up shown in dot and dash line.

The push button I1 is mounted'to slide throughabearingl37' forming portion of the wall of el- ,bow head l3, the inner end l'laof push button I! lamp circuit may comprise of a metallic helical coil spring 23 seated within the closed casing bottom Ha, having an end 23a contacting with container terminal i217 of the dry cell battery 12, an end 2411 of a metallic strip 24 being interposed between said bottom Ho and the spring end 231) to contact the latter; 'The strip 24 thus electrically connecting with battery terminal [2b may be secured to the casing by suitable means such as rivet 24b. for extending along the interior side thereof to terminate in an inwardly bent end 240 at the casing open end llb just below threads I la.

An annular flanged jumper '25 may be firmly mounted to the outer surface of the elbow head closed end l3b to extend down in the casing open end lib for electricall connecting with said strip bent end 240 by a scraping contact as shown in Fig. 6, the circuit being carried through said closed end l3b'by suitable means, such as metallic rivet 26. The latter also secures in place a short metallic strip 21 carried on the interior side of said closed end l3b wherethrough the circuit is electrically connected with reflector flange 18a and hence through the flange of the lamp base contact 20c. Said interior side of the closed end l3b may be formed with trough I370 for aligning the strip 21 and blade end 22a as shown in Fig. 4.

With the parts made and assembled as described above and shown in the drawings, the practical utility of the invention becomes at once apparent. The flashlight l0 may be carried in the hand when used or suspended on a belt by means of the gripper support l3e. To flash signal lights the push button I1 is simply pressed and released as required wherebythe spring blade 22 is deflected to close and open the circuit at the eyelet rivet la, the spring blade 22 being made to have sufiicient resiliency to normally be retained in open circuit position when the pressure of push button I! is released. To retain the circuit closed for constant illumination, the slide switch I6 is moved into the dot and dash line position shown in Fig. 6, whereby the spring blade 22 is deflected into the closed circuit position. There the detent means 28 retains the slide switch I6 against the action of the deflected spring blade 22.

If desired a suitable clip mounting or holder 30 may be provided within the elbow head l3 rearwardly of the reflector 18 for storing a spare lamp 20, as shown inFig. 6.

It should be noted that the slide switch I6 and push button switch I! are located in a com venient position for actuation by the thumb of the users hand when the tubular casing II is gripped, pressure on push button switch 11, exerting a force on' the spring blade 22 below that where pressure is applied by the actuation of slide switch l6 so that flash signals are most effectively produced.

It should also be noted, as shown in Fig. 6, that the head of screw I601 of the slide switch may be so located and arranged that said slide switch l6 when retained in retracted or in off circuit position with the detent means 28 pushed downyengages the extreme edge of the spring blade free end 2212. On pressing the push button I! there is thus provided a secondary end support for the spring blade 22. The action by push button switch [1 is thereby made more effective and the spring blade 22 may be actually bowed for giving a snap movement on making and breaking of the circuit. In fact an audible click may be produced when said blade free end 22b snaps by the head of screw l6d on pressing and releasing the push button l1,

It is thus therefore seen that there is provided an improved flashlight in which the objects of the invention are achieved and which are well adapted to meet all conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments may be made in the invention for use for different purposes and as variouschanges might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all the above matters here set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings, are to be interpreted as illustrative and not me. limiting sense. 1

Thus having described my invention, I claim asnew and desire to secureby'Letters Patent:

1. An elbow head assembly for a portable flashlight comprising an insulating molded angle tubular structure having a closed bottom end' with a battery connecting contact member extending therethrough, said bottom end adapted to form a closure for a battery compartment por tion of said flashlight, a lens cap secured to cover an open end of said structure, a metallic reflector secured to extend into said structure open end bein retained in place by said lens cap, a lamp socket means carried by the reflector to project centrally into said structure, an incandescent lamp fitted-into the reflector and mounted in said lamp socket means, a deflectable spring blade secured by said contact member to extend within said structure forelectrically connecting with said lamp socket means, a slide switch extending through a curved wall portion of said structure, and a push button switch spaced from said slide switch to extend through a wall portion of said structure mounted for movement independent of said slide switchand having a head bearing against the spring blade, said switch head limiting the outward movement of the push 2. An I elbow head assembly for a portable flashlight as defined in claim 1 in which an annular flanged jumper is mounted to anouter surface of said closed bottom end, said jumper being extended to a rimedge of said outer surface closed bottom end to provide anotherelectric contact member spaced from the first mentioned contact member and adapted to scrape a battery connecting means when mounting said elbow head on the battery compartment portion.

3. An elbow head assembly for a portable flashlight comprising an insulating molded angle tubular structure having a closed bottom end with a battery connecting contact member extendingtherethrough, said bottom end adapted to form a closure for a battery compartment portion of said flashlight, a lens cap secured to cover an open end of said structure, a metallic reflector secured to extend into said structure open end being retained. in place by said lens cap, a lamp socket means carried by the reflector to project centrally into saidstructure, an incandescent lamp fitted into the reflectorand mounted in said lamp socket means, a slide switch extending through a curved wall portion of said structure, a push button switch extending through a wall portion of said structure below said slide switch, and a ,deflectable spring blade secured by said contact member to extend extending in the path of movement of each of being retained in place by said lens cap, a lamp socket means carried by the reflector to project centrally into said structure, an incandescent lamp fitted into the reflector and mounted in said lamp socket means, a slide switch extending through a curved wall portion of said structure,

a push button switch extending through a wall portion of said structure below said slide switch, and a deflectable spring blade secured by said contact member to extend within said structure r for electrically connecting with said lamp socket means, said spring blade extending in the path of movement of each of said switches for independently controlling the making and breaking of a circuit through said connection of the spring blade with the lamp socket means, said slide switch includes a plate and a screw fastening for retaining theslide switch in an assembled position with respectto the spring blade, an. extreme free end of said blade being constructed and arranged to engage with said screw fastening when the slide switch is in open circuit position and the push button switch is actuated.

5.- A flashlight of the character described comprising a single molded plastic angle tubular structure of an elbow assembly having a closed bottom end formed with an extending attach- ,ment portion and including an integral elongated gripper support whichextends beyond the plane of said bottom end and said attachment portion, a lens cap secured to cover an openend of said structure, a metallic reflector secured to extend i cent said slide switch, a deflectable spring blade mounted to extend within said structure, in the path of movement of each of said switches for in dependently controlling the making and breaking of an electric circuit from the blade to said lamp socket means, a contact member extending centrally through said bottom end to an outer surface thereof for securing said spring blade in mounted position, an annular flanged jumper mounted to the outer surface of said bottom end said switches for independently controlling the making and breaking of a circuit through said connection of the spring blade with the lamp socket means, said molded structure'includes an integrally formed gripper support which extends. l

a closure for a battery compartment portion of said flashlight, a lens cap secured to cover an open end of said structure, a metallic reflector to provide another contact member spaced from said first mentioned contact member, a metallic strip mounted on aninner surface of said bottom end electrically connecting with the reflector, metallic fastening means extending through said closed bottom end connecting the annular jumper with said strip, a casing coupled to said attach ment portion with said closed bottom end forming a closure therefor, a battery retained in said casing with a terminal thereof connected with said first mentioned contact member, a metallic strip mounted in the casing and connected with the other terminal of the battery, said casing strip beingextended to said attachment portion and making a scraping connection with the an nular flanged jumper.

6. A flashlight as defined in claim 5 in which said slide switch includes a fasteningscrew having a head in the path of movement of an extreme free end of said spring blade to provide a temporary support during the operation or said push button switch.

JOSHUA GORDON UPPINCOTI'.

secured to extend into said structure open end i 

